"You can sleep in my arms, you don't have to explain. When your heart's crying out, baby, whisper my name. 'Cause I've reached out for you when the thunder is crashing up above, you've given me your love." Celine Dion, "If That's What It Takes"

Chapter 6

The Dark Ship

The prince wandered quietly around his lair. Since their arrival in this new dimension, Sapphire had kept himself constantly busy with all of the youmas, organizing them into squadrons based on their skills. Some were to be seekers, on the look out for the princess. Others were to start random attacks in the hopes of provoking the senshi into battle. The best of them had a single purpose - capture the golden angel known as Sailor Moon or Princess Serenity. In the event of a battle, it was their job to attack and gain her at any cost, even their own lives. In spite of this, the prince could not help but find himself unsatisfied.

Diamond reached his throne and sat down, a ponderous expression coming over his face. The youma were good, to be sure, but Serenity and the senshi had proven themselves to be more than capable of taking them down time and time again. As much as the youma would die to capture, Diamond wasn't altogether certain that they would be able to do more than that. The senshi, and especially Prince Heero, would be sure to put up a tremendous battle for their precious princess.

"Sapphire!" He called loudly. "Sapphire, come here immediately!"

"Yes, my lord." The younger man appeared swiftly before him. His blue hair was once again neatly parted, and he was dressed in the same blue outfit he'd worn every day for the last decade or so. "What can I do for you, sir?"

"It is almost time to implement or plans. After studying the senshi's previous battles, something has become quite obvious to me. It is of the utmost importance that we defeat the senshi in no more than three battles. After a few battles, the senshi manage to learn many details about their enemy, find weaknesses, and defeat them. This is why Endymion and Beryl were defeated." Diamond paused. "We will succeed where they have failed."

"As your highness commands it, so shall we do." Sapphire replied with a slight inclination of his head. "Do you have any other commands for us?"

"Yes." Diamond smirked slightly. "I know you do not particularly care for Emerald, however the two of you are to work together on this project. Each of you must constantly know what the other is planning so that you may act in harmony with one another."

"Really, sire," Sapphire interrupted, "I must protest my assignment with that woman. She knows nothing of strategy, or tact, or - " and he grimaced - " laughter that doesn't break all the glass within five miles of it."

"Are you telling me that you would prefer to have this job all to yourself?" Diamond inquired, sounding as though he was completely indifferent to his brother's suggestion.

"Yes, you highness."

"Well then, it is good that I predicted your resistance. Wiseman told me you would not be agreeable, although I must say even I was able to divine that." Diamond's expression reeked of evil. "Which, naturally, is why we devised a plan to keep you and her… connected, on the same page, so to speak."

"Brother what are you - " Sapphire did not get to complete his question as invisible hands reached out and tied him onto the wall. When he tried to speak again, Sapphire found his jaw completely locked. His brother laughed cruelly at him, and Wiseman floated along to his side.

"Don't worry so much Sapphire." The blonde man said. "Remember, it is for the greater good that you must make this small sacrifice and deal with this tiny annoyance. Isn't that right, Wiseman?"

"Of course, my liege." The Wiseman said. His dark and mysterious hands floated around his crystal ball. "Emerald will be returning shortly, and we can continue upon her arrival."

"And our other project?"

"Moving precisely according to our plans. We will be able to take over this entire dimension in a matter of days. All we have to do is keep those meddling Gundam pilots contained until our base is fully built."

"Excellent! I wish to be delayed no longer than necessary." He turned and walked across the room to a hologram. "Soon, Serenity, you will feel my vengeance. You may rest assured that nothing will deter me from destroying you and all you hold dear."

He laughed then, that evil, harsh laugh that only villains have mastered.

GW Dimension

"Say, you guys, don't you think we should try and wake them up?" Minako asked the next morning while Makoto cooked pancakes. "They've been out of it for a long time."

In the long hours since Serenity and Heero had fallen asleep, someone had constantly been watching them. The silver field around them made it impossible to go within five feet of the two, but Ami had managed to rig up a health scanning device to make sure that neither of them was dying. Once it was in place, and someone was constantly on guard, the rest of the senshi scattered.

Rei and Wufei had gone downstairs to work out. Minako and Motoki contented themselves with watching the battles. Rei naturally bested Wufei virtually every time. He was not the most gracious loser, and his reactions were always fun to watch. Trowa and Hotaru split their time between watching Rei and Wufei and dusting off all of Hotaru's lamps.

Haruka, Michiru, Makoto, and Duo took most of the alternating watch shifts. In the time they were away from the princess and prince, Haruka and Michiru practiced their music, especially the song they had created for Serenity so that they could play it for her when she woke up. Makoto cooked up a storm of all of Serenity's favorite foods while Duo watched (and ate) and thankfully did not attempt to help.

"If I know Renity, and Heero especially, I'd say that's a good sign." Duo remarked, shrugging his shoulders. "At least Heero hasn't woken up and tried to kill her again yet."

"Duo!" The unified shouts and multiple whacks on the head let him know that his comments were, as usual, not appreciated.

"On second thought, Minako, maybe it would be a good idea to try and wake them up." Duo sighed as he rubbed the back of his head. "At least she appreciates my jokes!"

"A rare talent, I assure you." Ami murmured. Then, as though realizing what she had just said, the Mercury senshi blushed a brilliant shade of scarlet and began typing away at her keyboard. "It will most likely be better for both of them if we let them sleep this out. Renity has them both in her realm, where everything bends to her will, so I think it ought to be secure enough for them there."

All eyes turned to Quatre.

"They'll be fine, and this whole thing will work out better if we don't wake them up." Quatre clarified. Ami blushed, and nodded in agreement.

"I wonder what could be keeping Beryl and Relena." Rei pondered aloud. She turned and faced Minako. "You said they were coming right over, right?"

"Well yeah, that's what Relena told me when I let her know Heero was back." She gasped suddenly. "You don't think something's happened to them, do you?"

"Come now, they probably had something better to do than worry constantly about Yuy." Wufei said, openly scoffing the idea.

"You mean like us?" Trowa put in quietly. Looks were exchanged. In the months following his disappearance, they hadn't really done much save trying to find him.

The rest of breakfast passed quietly, with only the sound of Haruka and Michiru's music filling the silence.

The Astral Realm

"We really ought to head back to them." Serenity said with a sigh, rolling onto her back. "I know we only just got to see each other again after months apart, but they haven't seen me in a while either. Plus, as far as they know, you still haven't got a clue as to who I am. If I were them, I would be quite worried right now."

"Must we?" Heero asked quietly. He said so little, and yet he spoke volumes. He pushed himself up onto his right elbow, and stared down into her face. She stared back at him, thousands of sentences being spoken straight from his heart to hers, messages relayed by their eyes. Letting her out of his sight was obviously not something Heero intended to do any time soon. His mask had, for the moment, faded away, replaced by the desperate need to keep her constantly by his side.

"Don't worry, Heero." She replied, reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck. She pulled him down to her, bringing his ear close to her lips to be sure that what she said next would stay with him. "I love you, and I will never leave you again. Nothing in this world or the next could ever make me stray from your side again."

"Sere…" His voice was quiet, gentle, and filled with an unusual quality that it almost never had. Serenity knew in that moment more clearly than ever before how much she meant to him. He was strong, as was she, but the truth was plain - without herself, he wouldn't be able to exist. With all of her heart, she acknowledged that the reverse was equally true.

"Not another word, my dearest, my darling, my Heero." She said quietly. "I swear to you, so long as it is within my power, we'll never be apart again."

"Never." He replied to her, the strength returning to his voice. He kissed her then, a deep, long kiss. "I'll always be with you. No matter what it takes, I'll never let you go."

"Oh, Heero." Serenity sighed. "That's the most beautiful thing anyone's ever said to me."

"I'm glad." Heero replied. Slowly, almost cautiously, a small smile found its way onto his lips. He gave a contented sigh before lying down next to her again.

"We really should go back to them now." She said, not for the first time. Even still, her voice was extremely reluctant. Heero took her hand and gave it a small squeeze. "On three. One… Two… Three."

Their spirits slid tranquilly from the Astral Realm and back into their own bodies.

Dimension GW

The first thing Serenity heard when she woke up was music, beautiful music pouring into her ears. A violin and piano duet, obviously Haruka and Michiru's work, floated gently through the room. Her hand was still entwined with that of the person she loved above all else, her soul mate.

"Shall we tell them we're awake?" Serenity mumbled quietly, sliding her body closer to his so that Heero could wrap his arm around her. She rested her head on his chest, and closed her eyes in relaxation.

"Hn." Heero sat up, bringing her with him. His head landed delicately on top of hers. They sat there for a long moment, neither really desiring to move.

"Aww, you guys, come look at this!" Minako may have been attempting to make her voice quiet, but she didn't really succeed. Immediately the heads of the other senshi and pilots poked into the room, the music ceasing. The moment broken, Serenity looked up at her friends and smiled.

"Hi everyone." She said softly. None of them failed to notice the protective, if somewhat possessive, way that Heero's arm wrapped around her small body. The two rose gracefully as one to stand in front of those they loved. The friends they hadn't seen in months, who now stood and stared at them.

"I told you Renity could fix him!" Duo exclaimed. Heero glared silently at him, the traditional Glare of Death that had long since stopped upsetting Duo.

"Duo," Serenity said, "if you value your life, I suggest you don't say another word. We've all been apart for months, and I don't intend to deny Heero anything at this point in time." She turned and looked up at the man she had just named. "If you wanna kill him, you have to do it today."

"Serenity!" Shocked glances were exchanged by those gathered. Heero simply held her closer. She smiled.

"Relax, you guys, I'm only kidding." Serenity stepped forward a pace from Heero and opened her arms. The others immediately ran into the space she left to hug her as tightly as they could. "I have missed you all so very much."

"I take it all of your memories are back in place, Heero?" Haruka asked calmly. He nodded his head sharply before stepping behind Serenity and once again wrapping his arms around her. He led her to a couch, and they seated themselves comfortably.

"So tell me, what have all of you been up to lately?" Serenity asked. The answers that came fast and furiously as all of them tried to speak up at the same time. Serenity raised her hands quietly in an attempt to get them to answer one by one. However, not even she was what managed to finally stop them.

The responsibility for that maneuver could be placed on two sounds. One was the methodical beeping of a computer, the signal of an incoming mission for the Gundam boys.

The other was the piercing screams floating through the open windows.